You’ve got your venue, your content is dialed in, the AV crew is setting up—and now comes the hard part: filling the room.
Nothing kills the energy of a powerful live event faster than empty seats. But here’s the truth most gurus won’t tell you—you don’t need a massive ad budget to sell out your event. You just need the right strategy.
I’ve filled rooms of 15 all the way up to 800 using these exact three methods—and they work again and again. Whether you’re hosting your first live event or scaling to something bigger, this blog lays out the proven, practical ways to get people in the door—without wasting money on ads that don’t convert.
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Make sure to watch the video, honestly, I’m much better on video than writing and there’s great info on event conversion strategies in the video that we could not fit into the blog.
1. Bundle Your Event Ticket With a Product You’re Already Selling
This one is a game-changer.
If you already have a digital course, group program, or coaching offer priced at $997, $1997, or even $2997, add your event ticket as an “implementation bonus.”
But here’s the nuance: don’t give it away for free.
People don’t value what they don’t pay for. Even a small ticket price ($97–$197) gives them skin in the game.
Use your first group coaching call to ask:
“Who here wants help actually implementing this?”
Then offer your live event as the next logical step to fast-track results. Add a VIP-only discount for buyers of the course and watch the conversions roll in.
It’s a seamless upsell that adds value and fills your room with people who are already invested.
2. Host a Free Workshop or Webinar and Sell the Event From Stage
This is hands-down one of our go-to strategies.
Why? Because it’s low-risk, high-impact—and it meets people where they are.
Host a 90-minute webinar or a half-day workshop. Deliver massive value. Solve one big pain point. Then transition naturally into:
“If this helped, imagine what we can do together in a full 3-day implementation experience…”
You’re not pitching out of nowhere. You’re simply inviting action-takers to go deeper. This works especially well if you already have a list or a warm audience who’s engaged with your content.
And best of all? No ad spend needed. Just solid content and clear next steps.
3. Pick Up the Phone—Yes, Really
If the idea of calling people makes you cringe, I get it.
But if you’re serious about filling your room—and filling it with buyers—this is the most powerful move you can make.
Start with a simple filter:
Who clicked your ads or emails?
Who downloaded your lead magnet and gave you a phone number?
These are warm leads. Call them within an hour or two. Congratulate them for taking action, then invite them to the event as the fastest way to implement and get results.
Here’s the line I love:
“If you’re looking to go fast, this event is for you.”
You’ll be amazed how many people say yes just because someone personally reached out. That’s connection—and it sells.
Which Strategy Should You Use First?
Simple:
If you already have a course, start with the bundled ticket upsell.
If you’re great on camera or Zoom, run a free workshop.
If your list is warm and your goals are big, pick up the phone.
Don’t rely on ads that eat your budget before they convert. These three strategies will help you sell out your event—with intention, integrity, and zero wasted spend.
Final Thought:
You don’t need a 6-figure ad budget to create a 6-figure event.
You just need to get strategic, stay personal, and position your event as the natural next step for transformation.
Want help building out the full funnel? Let’s talk.
